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Amazon.co.uk Review
As his name suggests, Raleigh Trevelyan is a distant relation of his biographical subject Sir Walter Raleigh. Perhaps that partly explains the dedication and hard work behind the brilliance of this vividly written and exhaustively researched biography of "a hero who was held out as a symbol of the Elizabethan Renaissance". Trevelyan manages to carefully revise the romantic myth of Raleigh, whilst also reminding his readers that "we cannot fail to be awed by the vastness of his aspirations."
As his name suggests, Raleigh Trevelyan is a distant relation of his biographical subject Sir Walter Raleigh. Perhaps that partly explains the dedication and hard work behind the brilliance of this vividly written and exhaustively researched biography of "a hero who was held out as a symbol of the Elizabethan Renaissance". Trevelyan manages to carefully revise the romantic myth of Raleigh, whilst also reminding his readers that "we cannot fail to be awed by the vastness of his aspirations."
Most people recognise Raleigh as the man who laid down his cloak for Queen Elizabeth and introduced tobacco into England. While both stories are far from the truth, Trevelyan points out that they both reveal defining elements of this flamboyant and extraordinary poet, courtier, soldier, explorer and politician. From relative obscurity Raleigh used his "vanity and ambition" to work his way into Queen Elizabeth's affections, embarking on a spectacular career putting down rebellion in Ireland, looting the Azores, founding the first English colonies in America, and setting sail twice in his search for the fabled El Dorado.
In England his judgement was less assured, and was often "embarrassingly cringing". He married for love and fell out with Elizabeth, and then proceeded to alienate the new king, James I, who threw him into the Tower of London, before finally executing him in 1618. Trevelyan concludes, "his performance on the scaffold was a great piece of theatre, but it is impossible not to be won over by it." This captures the spirit of this magnificent biography. Impeccable in its research and beautifully written, it captures the complex, multi-faceted nature of Sir Walter Raleigh. --Jerry Brotton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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